Carnival in Dominica ~ 2013

While Dominica’s 2013 Carnival Celebrations have come to a close, the high-flying spirit brought on by nearly two months of celebrating is still in the air.

There are several aspects to Dominica’s Carnival including Calypso, Pageantry, and the Carnival *Jump-Up* Parades.

Calypso

Calypso is a wonderful Caribbean art form and Dominica is well-known for producing many talented Calypsonians – well rounded individuals who can sing, dance, write songs and, above all, PERFORM.

Calypso Songs, often infused with double-entendre, address social ills, make statements about political or social positions, or simply entertain the listeners – sometimes a mixture of all three!

These days, Dominica has two competing ‘tents’ (groups of Calypsonians) who each have their own weekly competition leading up to the Grand Finale Calypso Monarch Competition where one Monarch is crowned.

• Stardom Calypso’s King of the Tent
• Showdown Mas Camp’s Champ of the Camp
• Junior Monarch Competition for the youth

More information can be found on our website:

• Calypso in Dominica
• 2013 Calypso Winners

Pageantry

While the Miss Dominica Pageant is the biggest and best-known event, there are several other competitions including:

• Miss Teen Dominica
• Princess Pageant
• Mother’s Queen Pageant

Miss Dominica is crowned the Carnival Queen and goes on to represent Dominica in regional and international competitions, as well as being a spokesperson for her cause at home in Dominica.

The Carnival Queen and Queen Contestants during the Carnival Tuesday Parade ~ February 12th 2013

Carnival Jump Up

Also known as ‘playing mas’, two days of Carnival parades blanket the streets of Roseau from early Monday morning through late Tuesday night. Dominica’s Carnival is an up-close & personal experience, where you can easily join a costume band, a t-shirt band or a get a few friends together and join in Jouvert (4 am to 6 am Carnival Monday morning).

Music, dancing, food & drink, vibrant splashes of colour, mixed with cultural heritage and Carnival’s own history, all blend together to make Dominica’s Carnival a unique and fun experience.

Images from Carnival Monday Jump Up  ~ February 11th 2013

Last Lap

All the contestants, led by the reigning Carnival King and Queen, participate in the costume parades on Carnival Monday & Tuesday.

See our website for more information about Carnival in Dominica

On January 9, 2011 the Calypso Elimination Round was held at Krazy Koconuts in Castle Comfort. From a field of 49 Calypsonians, 12 remain:

• Dennison “Dice” Joseph – Send Me
• Val “Young Bull” Cuffy – Matador
• Henry “Kendes” Etienne – Stop Running Your Mouth
• Freddy “Man Himself” Mendes – Made for Service
• Leandra Cuffy – Pray for Me
• Julien “Pickey” Lockhart – Many are Called, Few are Chosen
• Reginald “Third Eye” Lander – Si-I-Bon-Si-I-Male
• Alvine “Exposure” Gachette – She’s A Girl
• George “Mighty Acre” Jervier – Suktouya Boom Boom
• Narrin “Trendsetter” Murphy – Ready Made Jacket
• Peter “Educator” Stewart – A Simple Question
• Victor “Comforter” Bique – More Blood

See them at the Calypso Quarter Finals on February 5th, 2011.

Watch & Listen

This week, four-time monarch King Dice launched his brand new video Send Me.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqwQVGSJWIM]

Join King Dice on Facebook or check out his YouTube Channel.

Want to Hear More?

Join a tent! Hear the top twelve Calypsonians plus many more talented performers as the competition heats up.

• Showdown Mas Camp every Friday before Carnival at Harlem Plaza in Newtown.
• Stardom every Wednesday before Carnvial at Krazy Koconuts in Castle Comfort.

Make sure not to miss this year’s Calypso and Real Mas celebrations which run from now through Carnival Monday & Tuesday on March 7th & 8th, 2011.

• Check the schedule

Karessah Performing 'Dogs on the Track'

Dominica has been resonating with the sounds of Calypso during the 2010 Real Mas Carnival Celebrations which have just come to a close.

Last Saturday night at the Grand Calypso Finals, Portsmouth MP Ian Douglas made history when he appeared on stage with the defending Calypso Monarch Karessah.

At the end of Karessah’s second song “Dogs on the Track,” the Portsmouth MP made his Calypso debut.

Hon. Ian Douglas

Photos Courtesy of ImagesDominca.com

Karessah went on to win the 2010 Calypso Monarch Crown.

This is just the most recent demonstration of the Minister of Tourism’s enthusiasm for his job. In July 2008, he became the island’s first Minister of Tourism to go Scuba Diving. He enjoyed it so much, he followed it up by completing a dive course and becoming a certified scuba diver.

• For a summary of the winners of Dominica’s Carnival 2010, visit our Carnival Winners page.

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Dragon Costume, Queen Contestant

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Carnival Corner

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King Karessah and Queen Marcia

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Teen Princess Colette Ambo & Junior Calypso Monarch Professor

2010 Carnival Queen Marcia Baptiste

Saturday night it was time to crown the king as the top ten Calypsonians battled it out on the stage at Carnival City. After a slow first round, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy by great performances from  all the artists.  But it was defending champion King Karessah who pulled victory out of the calypso cap, thrilling the crowd with his rendition of Dogs on the Track. Dressed in a dog costume, Karessah’s performance brought the house down when Hon. Ian Douglas (MP for Portsmouth) appeared on stage, trying to catch Karessah.

• Listen to Dogs on the Track on the Dominica-Calypso.com website.

2010 Calypso King Karessah

Congratulations to Carnival Queen Marcia Baptiste and Calypso King Karessah.

• See all the 2010 Carnival Winners on avirtualDominica.com

Watch our blog for photos of the King & Queen in tomorrow’s Carnival Tuesday Parade.

Soul Puss

Checker

Checker and Soul Puss are both in Dominica’s 2010 Calypso Monarch Finals which will be held on Saturday, February 13th at Carnival City (Pottersville Savanne).

The Final Nine:

Photography by ImagesDominica.com

The Final Nine pictured above:

Checker, Daddy Chess, de Bobb, Explosion, Lady Star, Observer, Soul Puss, Sye and Tasha P.

Up Next…

• Don’t miss the final showdown on Saturday, February 13th at Carnival City (Pottersville Savanne).

More Carnival Winners

Thursday afternoon was the Junior Calypso Monarch Competition. For the second year running de Professor won the Junior Crown to a crowd of cheering fans at Harlem Plaza.

The Carnival Princess show was held on Sunday at Harlem Plaza. Seven young ladies vied for the title but it was Selena Cuffy who was crowned Dominica’s 2010 Carnival Princess.

• Read more about Calypso and Carnival on avirtualDominica.com